The Bede are a nomadic community living in Bangladesh. They are often referred to as Water Gypsies or River Gypsies as they are boat dwellers and normally have no abode on land. So they live, travel, and earn their living on the river. Though there are about a million of Bede people in Bangladesh, they are a marginalized group. About 98 percent of them live below the poverty line, and very few Bede children attend school. Interestingly, these rivers nomads follow matriarchal society norms and thus, women are often bread-earners as well.
France Leclerc, born in Quebec, Canada, is an independent photographer who currently lives in Chicago. Her early career was in academia, but she decided to make a change to pursue her true passion for photography. The most prominent themes of her work are culture (especially disappearing ones), gender, and social inequality. She likes to describe her work as “life photography”, though her approach is a mix between documentary and street photography.
Awards 2023 LensCulture Photography Festival, Third Place
2022 Miami Street Photography Festival, Third Place
2021 PX3 Gold Medal Street Photography Category
2021 PX3 Bronze Medal Press Category
2021 PX3 State of the World, Shortlisted
2021 Portrait of Humanity, Finalist
2021 IPA Award People and Lifestyle, Honorable Mention
2021 Siena International Photo Award, Journeys, and Adventure, Honorable Mention
